A review of the concerned parent movement in the United States of America.

Parent groups of various sizes, structures and emphases, whose common goal is to prevent drug use among young people, have grown rapidly in recent years throughout the United States of America. There are now more than 4,000 formal parent organizations striving to achieve a drug-free life for young people. The parent groups have unified into a nationwide parent movement, which has become the most influential force for the prevention of drug abuse in the country, affecting public laws, policies and attitudes. The parent groups are undertaking various activities within such areas as prevention, treatment and drug law enforcement to deal with problems of drug abuse. The leaders of the movement are predominantly volunteers, representing a variety of backgrounds. Such leadership has been able to ensure co-operation with social and public health services, and other agencies concerned. The parent movement has proved successful in formulating policies that are conducive to the prevention and reduction of drug abuse, and the recent decline in drug abuse has, to a certain extent, been attributed to the movement.